Ideas That Speak-Returning to our Roots

Wecome to the first post from Ideas That Speak, a new company that works with aspiring speechwriters and helps non-profits with direct mail.

Speechwriting, in a sense, has never been more difficult.

Why?

Because we are centuries removed from the oral cultures that, no matter what our background, began and sustained our communication.

How many times do you, or someone you know, insist, "PUT IT IN WRITING!"

What's the message? The oral isn't authentic somehow. We can't rely on it.

And yet, a politician bursts on the scene, and even without informing or necessarily satisfying voters on his policies and the details of those policies, he makes history by inspiring those voters, sweeping them up on the coattails of his words and the way he speaks them.

How?

Soren Kirkegaard, the Danish thinker, said that the difference between a prophet and a genius is that no matter how brilliant, the message of a genius will be broken down and its essence lost as a result.

However, a prophet's message always retains its totality, its core, somehow. Politicians who speak well, no matter what the details of their message, rely on the prophetic tradition to move voters to give them their trust, despite the unknown choices that such politicians will face in office.

I remember about six months ago, I was at a gathering where an outside speaker spoke about Emotional Intelligence. I think he moved most of us in the audience. However, some, especially, those at the higher end of the organization were uneasy. They wanted more details on how to improve their own and their subordinates' emotional intelligence.

As a result, they missed the point. Their insistence on "takeaways" made them miss the essence of the positive context and inspiration the speaker was trying to provide.

Let that be the feeling you give your audience. Even if they do not remember the details of your speech, even if you don't provide them, move them with your essence, and they will be receptive to your message.

Thanks for joining us here at Ideas that Speak and stay tuned for more posts.